Wire stretching and splicing tool



Jan. 29, 1924.

' r J. H. C. HIRD WIRE STRETCHING AND SPL-ICING TOOL Filed April 1; 1922 Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH H. C. HIRD, OF MASON CITY, NEBRASKA.

WIRE STRETCHING AND SPLIGING TOOL.

Application filed April 1, 1922. Serial No. 548,836.

. T all whom it may concern:

new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretching and Splicing Tools, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the purpose to provide a tool of this character, wherein means is afforded for removing boards and like articles from supports, as well as for driving nails, extracting staples, nails, and the like.

Another purpose is the provision of a too. of this character, wherein means are afforded for splicing fence wires and the like.

It is still another purpose to provide a very simple, efficient, and durable tool of this character adapted for various uses in.

wrecking, such as pulling nails, or staples, prying or knocking boards off of parts to which they are connected, and which may also be used for splicing the ends of broken wire strands, and tightening such strands.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth are deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible of changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved tool constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating the first step in splicing the adjacent ends of wires;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the second step in splicing the wires;

Fig. 3 .is a view illustrating a third step;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the fourth step:

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the fifth step in splicing the wires;

Fig. 6 is a persectiveview illustrating the sixth step in splicing the wires;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9- is a sectional view on line 99 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the shank ofthe tool, which is provided at one end with a hook-shaped head 2 having its inner or return end bifurcated as at 3, to cause jaws 4 to be formed. The jaws, as shown, are tapered to a fine point, from both the inner side of the bifurcation and the under side of the claw, so that the points of the. claws may readily enter beneath a wire, or on opposite sides of a staple. This construction of the claw also facilitates the entrance of a spike or nail between the jaws of the claw, as may be readily understood.

The opposite end of the shank terminates in an arcuate portion, extending laterally, and in a general direction opposite to the arrangement of the head 2. This arcuate portion 5 is tapered and terminates in a sharp edge 6, which may enter under planks or boards which are secured to rafters, uprights or any other form of support, which boards or planks may be pried from such support as is common with devices of this character.

The arcuate portion having the sharp edge 6 is of considerable curvature so as to obtain an effective leverage for prying boards and the like from the1r supports.

The shank, as shown, is provided with a pair of spaced openings 7 in which the reduced portions 8 of the wire splicing members 9 and 9 are removably fastened. The bodies of the splicing members (which extend laterally from the shank) have their outer end portions provided with bifurcations 10. The jaws 11 caused to be formed by said bifurcations have extensions 12, which constitute jaws extending in the same general direction laterally toward the shank. These extensions or jaws 12 are disposed upon opposite sides of the bodies of said splicing members and spaced therefrom. These spaces which are bounded by the jaws or extensions 12 and the bodies of the splicing members are designed to be engaged by the end portions of the wire to be spliced.

The operation of splicing the adjacent ends of wires together, consists first in engaging the wires in the bifurcations 10, then turning the end portions of the wires around the jaws as shown, after which, as shown in Fig. 2, the entire tool is turned end for end, which acts to stretch the two strands of wire, and it will be noted that the portions of the wires between the splicing members are then overlapped. After the tool has been turned end for end as in Fig.

2, the wires a and b overlap, the wire I) is then moved laterally to overlie the wire a and is engaged under the extension or jaw 12 as in Fig. 3, which is the initial step in making a connection between the wires. The wire a, as in Fig. 4, is then moved laterally to assume an overlying position relatively to the wire 3) and is engaged under an extension or j aw 12 of the other splicing member and as a result of this the wires a and b are twisted. hen turning the tool end for end to obtain the result in Fig. 2, the tool is maintained in a general horizontal plane with the splicing members remaining in their usual perpendicular positions.

After obtaining the result of twisting the wires as in Fig. 4 the tool is given another turn end for end in the direction of the arrow 0 in Fig. 4, and as this is being carried out the bodies of the wires a and Z) are disengaged from the jaws or extensions 12. Also as this movement is being carried out the wires a and untwist, but in accomplishing this result the wires become looped together as in Fig. 5. Afterso looping the wires as in Fig. 5, the bodies of the wires are engaged under the diagonal opposite extensions or jaws 12 of said splicing members as in Fig. 5. The terminals of the wires (4 and Z) are then disengaged from the jaws formed by the bifurcations 10 and are then wrapped or twisted around the bodies of the wires a and b as in Fig. 6, thereby making a splice or connection between the Wires.

Also mounted on the shank near the head 2 is a hammer poll13, which may be utilized for driving nails, spikes, and the like, and also for any other uses to which an ordinary hammer poll may be put.

The inventionhaving been set forth, what is claimed is 1. A bar having wire splicing elements removably connected thereto, said elements being spaced and extending laterally from the bar and having their outer ends provided with bifurcations, in which the end portions of the adjacent ends of wires may be fastened, whereby the bar may be given sufficient turn to cause the wires to overlap each other, said splicing members having other bifurcations, one upon each side of each element, for the reception of the strands of wire to enable them to be partially twisted, and whereby upon further turning movement of the bar, the looped ends of the wiresinay form into interconnecting loops.

2. A bar having spaced wire-splicing elements attached thereto, each of said wiresplicing elements comprising a shank bifurcated at its upper end to provide spaced jaws, each of said jaws having a downwardly disposed extension substantially paralleling the shank and in spaced relation thereto.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSEPH H. C. HIRD. 

